Nintendo 3DS becomes first 3D handheld console

Nintendo has unveiled the 3DS to the world: the first portable console to feature real 3D graphics without needing special goggles to view them.

The new Nintendo 3DS features glasses-free 3D gaming on the move.

Although shrouded in secrecy, the final system looked remarkably like the fan-made mock-ups that had appeared over the last few days, with the basic design very similar to the existing Nintendo DS consoles.

The bottom touchscreen is the same as always but the top one is a 3.5 inch widescreen display that runs in real 3D. The intensity of the 3D effect can be adjusted using a special slider, which can lessen the effect or turn it off completely and run in normal 2D.

On first evidence the graphical power of the 3DS seems to be roughly equivalent to a Wii (or more precisely a GameCube) and apparently well ahead of the PSP and iPhone.

The problem is of course that the 3D effect can’t be demonstrated unless you see the device in the flesh, as it doesn’t work in photos or videos – only via the easily fooled human eye. Even the most cynical souls have managed to be impressed by the effect though, which is far from the half-effective gimmick some feared.

The only problem is that there is definitely a sweet spot, in terms of the distance and angle of the screen, at which the 3D illusion is most effective. Move outside this and it lessens, go completely outside and the image becomes a blurry mess. Adjusting to this single limitation though seems to be fairly easy for most people.

As well as displaying 3D the console also has a motion sensor and a gyroscopic sensor built-in. The button layout is the same as the DS but with an extra ‘Slide Pad’ – basically an analogue controller similar to a squashed version of the one on the Wii nunchuck.

The 3DS is also backwards compatible with the existing DSi, which means it has an internal camera. But on the outside it has not one, but two external cameras. This allows you to take photos in 3D and share them with friends – likely to be one of the key selling points.

The 3DS can also show real 3D movies, with Disney, Warner Bros. and DreamWorks already lining up to have their 3D films demoed on the system (Tangled and How To Train Your Dragon are both at E3). Although interestingly their effect now seems far less impressive next to that of games made specifically for the 3DS.

Nintendo is also keen to promote the console as being fully online-enabled. Head honcho Satoru Iwata was particularly enthusiastic about the system’s sleep mode, which works independently of any game and constantly searches for other 3DSes to share game data with.

This includes Nintendo’s servers who will send out new stages, ghost rankings, characters and other extras at random when you pass through Wi-Fi hotspots. And all for free too.

In terms of games, you can see the huge range of first and third person games on the full list of Nintendo 3DS games here . Although the game Nintendo chose to lead with was Kid Icarus: Uprising. This featured both 3D flight and ground-based shooting and is the brainchild of Smash Bros. creator Mashario Sakurai. Nintendo revealed they set up the developer Project Sora in 2009 specifically for him to create games for the 3DS.

The only fly in the announcement ointment was that there was no mention of price and no release date. There’s no clue whatsoever on the former but in terms of a release date Nintendo has promised it’ll be out before the end of March 2011. Although that may apply only to Japan.